Hip Replacement - Procedures and Options

According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 450,000 total hip replacements are performed in America annually.

The hip joint, the body's largest ball-and-socket joint, connects the thigh bone to the pelvis. We use this joint frequently, such as in daily activities like walking. Over time, people start to complain about hip pain—especially adults 50 and older. If it becomes damaged, it can significantly impact your quality of life, making it painful or difficult to walk, stand and sit.

Initially, treatment might include muscle strengthening exercises, physical therapy, weight loss, anti-inflammatory medications and a walker or cane. However, if non-surgical treatments fail to provide relief, it might be time to consider hip replacement.

During a total hip replacement, an incision is made in the back or side of the hip. The surgeon removes any damaged or diseased bone before the socket is reshaped. Once the socket is fitted with a metal cup, the rounded end at the top of your femur is removed and replaced with a metal stem and prosthetic ball. That ball fits into your newly shaped socket.

Studies indicate the success rate is 95% when it comes to relief from hip pain. The success rate of hip replacements after 10 years is 90 to 95%, and 80 to 85% at 20 years.

What to Consider

Before recommending hip arthroplasty, teams of orthopedic specialists perform thorough evaluations of potential patients. As with all major surgical procedures, possible complications are associated with total hip replacement. The procedure requires general or regional anesthesia, and infection, blood clots and dislocation are all uncommon but possible side effects.

While there is no age limit on the procedure, the average age of a total hip replacement recipient is between 50 and 80, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). That is likely because the three most common causes of deteriorating hip functionality—rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and hip fracture—are closely associated with advanced age.

According to a 2017 report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, hip replacements increased 30% between 2007 and 2017. And though we might consider this surgery for older adults, there's been a spike in hip replacements in those between the ages of 45 and 54.

Factors influencing the longevity of hip replacements include the materials used in the prosthesis, the amount of ongoing wear and tear on the joint and the way the new joint is attached to the bone.

The AAOS estimates the average hospital stay for a patient who undergoes minimally invasive hip arthroplasty is about three days less than those who receive a new hip joint in an open procedure. Minimally invasive total hip replacement is not a viable option for every patient. Speak to your physician team to see if you could benefit from it.

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